Saudi interest in Sudanese oil

Sudan’s Minister of Oil Awad el-Gaz met with a Saudi delegation headed by Prince Fahad bin-Makran Bin abdel-Aziz on Thursday, in an attempt to drum up interest and investment around Sudan’s national oil supplies. Adviser to the Saudi Prince Ayman el-Refaie said that a number of Saudi companies had already expressed a desire to invest in Sudanese oil. He praised the Sudanese government for their efforts in developing an oil sector in the country. A number of Saudi companies, including Hamed Saleh and Arab United Mines are already preparing to enter Sudanese markets. Fadl el-Haq, an Arab United Mines official, described business opportunities there as “promising.” Sudan’s oil minister celebrated the growing links between Sudan and Saudi Arabia, welcoming Gulf investments. A common history and region would increase opportunities for cooperation in oil, he added. El-Gaz also said that his Ministry is preparing to increase oil production while developing the sector wholesale. Sudan’s Investment Minister Mustafa Othoman Ismail also announced the establishment of a  Saudi-Sudanese investment forum, adding that such a development reflects the deeper economic cooperation between the two countries.